A story released today by Online.ie reports that former U.S. president Bill Clinton has asked Nigeria to spare the life of an unwed mother condemned to death by stoning.

Amina Lawal was sentenced by an Islamic court for having sex outside marriage.

The former US President says the appeal is personal and not on behalf of the United States.

"I hope and pray that the legal system will find a way to pardon a young woman convicted to death for bearing a child out of wedlock," Clinton said in a public lecture to an audience that included Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Clinton said he hoped Lawal's case would end in a similar way as that of Safiya Husseini, the first Nigerian woman to be similarly tried and sentenced. Husseini successfully appealed her conviction in March.

"This is something you've done once before and I hope it will happen again," he said.

Clinton said Islam had a tradition of "protecting such rights for women and protecting children." Prophet Mohammed, the religion's founder, was married to a successful businesswoman, a sign he respected women, the former US president added.

"I can tell you the world will be cheering" if Lawal is released, Clinton said. "It is a small thing for a great nation to forgive."